Pillow



Feb. 15, 1966 T W T 3,234,569

PILLOW Filed'Oct. 15, 1962 Fly. I INVENTOR.

ATTORNE Y5.

United States Patent Gfifice 3,234,569 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 3,234,569PILLOW David L. Stewart, 5525 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Oct.15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,479 Claims. (Cl. 5--338) This invention relatesto improvements in pillows and, more specifically, to a pillow for usein supporting the nape of the neck between the atlas and the seventhcervical vertebra.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a pillow thatproperly supports the muscles of the neck so that they are neitherextended nor flexed when a person is reposed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pillow for engagingthe nape of the neck while reposed to hold the spine in the sameposition relative to the head and shoulders as when standing erect withproper posture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pillow forplacement between the atlas and the seventh cervical vertebra that willprevent the muscular ailments contracted during sleep by persons subjectto spinal or other back ailments.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with partsbroken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the attachment of one end of theelastic strip to an end piece; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the exterior of the pillowcomprises an outer cylindrical casing and a pair of end pieces 12 and 14forming the pillow into a closed cylindrical configuration. End pieces12 and 14 are of double layer construction. FIG. 3 shows end piece 12comprising an inner layer 12A and an outer layer 12B. The inner layersof the end pieces may consist of sailcloth or canvas fabric. The outercasing 10 and the outer layers of the end pieces may consist ofbroadcloth, percale, or muslin, the end pieces being made separate fromthe outer casing and stitched thereto along their outer peripheries. Theouter casing may be formed by rolling a fiat piece of cloth into acylindrical shape and stitching the longitudinal edges together as shownat 16.

The interior of the pillow comprises a filler 18 coiled about an elasticstrip 200. The elastic strip is disposed along the axis of the cylinderand attached to the end pieces 12 and 14. An inner casing 22 of gauze orcheesecloth may be used to contain the filler 18 while the filler isbeing inserted into the outer casing prior to stitching the casingtogether at 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates a suitable manner of attaching the ends of theelastic strip 20 to the corresponding end pieces. A loop 24 consistingof a small strip of cloth may be stitched to the end piece as shown at28. It may be noted that outer layer 12B serves to reinforce the endpiece at stitches 28. FIG. 4 shows the end of the elastic strip 20looped through the loop 24 and stitched as at 32 to secure the strip tothe loop.

The filler 18 is constructed from an initially flat mat of polyesterfibers composed of a copolymer of methyl terephthalate and ethyleneglycol, an example being Dacron in fiberfill form, manufactured by E. I.du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., of Wilmington, Delawere. This materialis composed of very fine, long, hair-like fibers disposed at random andloosely interspersed to form an aeriferous mat. A mat of this materialweighing eight ounces per lineal yard for a width of 30 inches may beutilized. Beginning with a mat 30 inches in length and 20 inches inwidth, the length of the mat is then formed into a roll around theelastic strip 20. A coil of material is thus obtained that is 20 inchesin length and approximately 6 inches in diameter.

For a coil having a lengthof 20 inches it is necessary that the distancebetween end pieces 12 and 14 be 17 /2 inches for optimum results. Thisproduces a 2 /2 inch longitudinal compression of the filler 18 when itis inserted into the outer casing. The elastic strip 20 then serves tofurther maintain the filler in longitudinal compression to prevent theends 12 and 14 from bulging through usage and to maintain the filler atthe desired density. The elastic strip, therefore, should be attached tothe loops 24 under slight attenuation.

Depending on the composition of the filler, the diameter of the pillowis critical if optimum results are to be obtained. When the fillermaterial as above specified is used it has been found that a diameter ofapproximately 6 inches insures that when the pillow is compressed underthe weight of the neck, the compressed thickness thereof will besufficient to support the neck while allowing the shoulders and the backof the head to lie against the mattress of the bed. This maintains thespine in the same position relative to the head and shoulders as when aperson is standing erect with proper posture. The filler conforms to thenape of the neck and supports the muscles thereof so that they areneither extended nor flexed. A properly positioned pillow of the presentinvention supports the neck between the atlas and the seventh cervicalvertebra.

Although an uncompressed diameter of 6 inches has been found to be anaverage figure suitable for most individuals, in general a range ofsuitable pillow diameters is from 5 to 7 inches. It is interesting tonote that these dimensions apply equally to children as well as toadults. It should be understood that if fillers other than the polyesterfibers above described are to be utilized, the diameter of the pillowmay have to be altered accordingly. The importance of this diameterrelates to its compressed thickness rather than its uncompressedthickness as the compressed thickness must be such that the neck will beproperly supported.

The foregoing is valid Within certain limits. The uncompressed diameterof the pillow must be sufiicient in length to cover the nape of the neckand thus extend from approximately the atlas to the seventh cervicalvertebra. Furthermore, the texture of the filler material must be suchthat it will conform to the configuration of the nape. It is for thisreason that many conventional pillow stuffing materials are whollyunsuitable for the present invention.

With regard to the proper length of the pillow, it is only necessarythat the length be sufficient to afford adequate comfort. The 17 /2 inchlength set forth above has been found adequate for this purpose. Theends of the pillow on each side of the neck must extend laterallyoutwardly therefrom a distance sufficient to allow the compressed centerportion of the pillow to assume the configuration of the nape and allowthe sleeping individual sufiicient lateral freedom of movement to assurea comfortable rest.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pillow for supporting the cervical vertebrae comprising:

an elongated case; and

a generally cylindrical, elongated filler in said case comprising aninitially flat, fibrous mat of poly- 3 4 ester material coiled about thelongitudinal axis of said material forming said filler is between 70 and115 the filler, the fibers of said material being disposed grams perfoot of said initial length of the filler. at random within said mat andbeing loosely inter- 4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the weight ofspersed rendering the filler aeriferous, said case being said materialforming said filler equals approximately configured to complementallyreceive said filler 5 90 grams per foot of said initial length of thefiller. and being provided with a pair of opposed end pieces 5. Theinvention of claim 4, wherein said distance is and means coupled withsaid end pieces and mainequal to approximately of said initial length.taining the latter spaced apart a lesser distance than the initiallength of said filler prior to insertion into References Cited y theExamine! the case, whereby to place said filler in longitudinal 10UNITED STATES PATENTS compression, the difference between said distanceand said initial length being sufficient to substantially g increase thetransverse resilience of the filler and area 0 prevent lateraldisplacement of said material from FOREIGN PATENTS beneath the neck whenreposing. 15 453,246 12/1948 Canada 2. The invention of claim 1, whereinsaid distance is equal to approximately M; of said initial length. FRANKB. SHERRY, Primary Examiner,

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the weight of

1. A PILLOW FOR SUPPORTING THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE COMPRISING: ANELONGATED CASE; AND A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL, ELONGATED FILLER IN SAIDBASE COMPRISING AN INITIALLY FLAT, FIBROUS MAT OF POLYESTER MATERIALCOILED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE FILLER, THE FIBERS OF SAIDMATERIAL BEING DISPOSED AT RANDOM WITHIN SAID MAT AND BEING LOOSELYINTERSPERSED RENDERING THE FILLER AERIFEROUS, SAID CASE BEING CONFIGUREDTO COMPLEMENTARY RECEIVE SAID FILLER AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OFOPPOSED END PIECES AND MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID ENDS PIECES ANDMAINTAINING THE LATTER SPACED APART A LESSER DISTANCE THAN THE INITIALLENGTH OF SAID FILLER PRIOR TO INSERTION INTO THE CASE, WHEREBY TO PLACESAID FILLER IN LONGITUDINAL COMPRESSION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAIDDISTANCE AND SAID INITIAL LENGTH BEING SUFFICIENT TO SUBSTANTIALLYINCREASE THE TRANSVERSE RESILIENCE OF THE FILLER AND PREVENT LATERALDISPLACEMENT OF SAID MATERIAL FROM BENEATH THE NECK WHEN REPOSING.